Raila joins cattle farmers Museveni, Ruto in inspecting prized Ankole cows
At the invitation of Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, in a rare show of compatriotism, Kenya’s President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga met on one of President Museveni’s farms in Kisozi, Buzaaya in Kamuli District located in the Eastern Region in Uganda.
Photos from the meeting emerged of the three African leaders cattle herding President Museveni’s prized Ankole cows as they discussed issues pertinent to the two countries including energy and petroleum issues, diplomatic and economic ties as well as Raila Odinga’s African Union Commission Chairmanship candidacy which he announced about ten days ago.
Of the three, Museveni and Ruto are renowned avid cattle farmers.
President Museveni keeps Ankole cows- cattle that are known to have long, thick horns that can grow up to 6 feet, have shoulder heights of between 5.5 and 6.6 feet, can weigh up to 6.5 kilograms at birth, and scale up to between 450 and 720 kilograms as mature adults for bulls, and between 405 and 540 kilograms for females. The Ankole cattle are grazers and largely feed on grass, and have a lifespan of more than 20 years.
At one point, President Museveni remarked that he did not know he was sitting on gold with his Ankole cows.
“On the weekend, I was in Kisozi to see the cattle z’obujajja (ancestral cattle – enshugyi). These cattle are, really, so wonderful!! It was so dry, but they were still managing, as you can see in the pictures. The exotic ones would not survive. They have the best and safest beef. Why? They are the only cattle with yellow fat, which is low in cholesterol. All the other cattle have white fat that has cholesterol. Their milk has also got better cream.
Mr Motsepe of the Confederation of African Football Association, only the other day came to tell me about football affairs. However, he also told me that, recently, he bought an Ankole bull from H.E. Ramaphosa, who bought 43 cows from me some years ago, at the price of USD 120,000 for that bull. Talking of unknowingly sitting on gold!! There you are,” celebrated President Museveni on X in July 2022.
Ankole cows are highly prized as status symbols and for ceremonial functions. They have great beef production and very rich milk. President Museveni is one of the biggest dairy famers in Uganda and his milk is known to dominate the Kenyan market.
On the other hand, President Ruto is an avid dairy farmer. He owns a 900-acre Kilgoris farm where he has hundreds of beef and dairy cattle. He also owns another farm in Taita Taveta, a 1000-acre farm in which he does mass livestock keeping and farming.
Also read: Impunity! How Nairobi inspectorate officers were attacked at construction site
Kelvin Kiptum’s ‘baby mama’ Edna Awuor makes fresh revelations on athlete’s wife, parents